2021-7 by Gay Vegas

VOL 21, #7

LAS VEGAS MAGAZINE

TODRICK HALL LA$ VEGA$

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By: Chris Azzopardi

Normalizing Queerness, One Gay Kiss at a Time ‘Love, Victor’ stars Michael Cimino and George Sear on bringing gay sex to their YA series and impacting LGBTQ+ youth

Photo Credit: Hulu

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Photo Credit: Hulu

“Love, Victor,” now in its second season, refuses to navigate coming out as simply a one-note experience. The gay teen-romance, a series spinoff of the groundbreaking “Love, Simon” feature film, launched its debut season last year on Hulu. The first season was created for Disney+, but the company declined to air it after filming was complete. The show, Disney execs decided, was too grown-up for its young audience. Season 2, then, was created with Hulu audiences in mind, which means more mature emotional themes and a good amount of gay nooky — in fact, an entire episode is devoted to the show’s romantic leads, Victor (Michael Cimino) and Benji (George Sear), having sex. This season, the series follows

Victor as a newly out high schooler, from all sorts of Benji-Victor (“Venji,” as they’ve been collectively coined) romantic side plots –– meeting the parents, learning about gay sex — to how homophobia, when complicated by deep-rooted cultural and religious beliefs, has to be unlearned. Before you read any further, know that this interview with Cimino and Sear, who talk about all that making out (and why they opted out of an intimacy coach for those sex scenes), includes some spoilers.

George Sear: Yeah, it’s an emotional one. Michael Cimino: It’s a roller coaster, for sure. Sear: I, myself, was tearing up yesterday because I watched the first three episodes, and particularly the scenes with the parents.

You guys owe me a few boxes of tissues for all the crying I did last night binging this season.

Cimino: I was still, um, not even a thought! I wasn’t even a thought in either of my parents’ heads. But no, I think we’re moving in the right

I also just have to start by saying that if I saw two boys making out as much as you two do in this season of “Love, Victor” when I was 16 years old, I would have made out with a lot more guys. Like, where were you in 1995?

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW direction. I don’t think we’re in a very different time, but I think that we’re moving in the right direction (with) shows like this, where young LGBT youth can watch it and be like, “Oh, this is normal. This is OK.” I feel like a lot of straight teens are like, “Oh yeah, I can make out with this person or this person, and it’s completely

Photo Credit: Hulu 8 Fab Vegas

fine.” But it should be exactly the same for the LGBT community. They should feel no pressure and (it) should be completely normal to just kiss people in public. Or have sex with your boyfriend and have your mom or dad catch you, because that also happens with gay people.

Cimino: Yes — yes, it does. It totally does. And I think that, obviously, right now, we’re definitely talking about… this show is definitely (about) queer Latinos and I love that about it. I think that it’s kind of exactly like every other straight teen show but except through a queer lens. I love that part about “Love, Victor.”

Sear: It does show the difficult realities of coming out in today’s age, which is a difficult thing for most people, but also just the joy in celebrating who you are and embracing who you are on the other side of that. And living your truth. I think gay sex has been really neglected on television and I was pleased to see the

second season of “Love, Victor” really go there with the sex. What did you appreciate about the way that this season tackled sex, George? Sear: I think just having LGBTQ writers bring their stories and their experiences into the script brings this authenticity and realness to

the stories. So the writing is all there. You know, as an actor to be able to play this part and then have such great quality writing is really kind of everything. What about you, Mike? Cimino: Honestly, the whole representation of Victor’s sexual awakening and his sex life with Benji definitely relies a lot on George and I’s

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW chemistry. I think that George is — sorry to give you your flowers on here — so easy to work with and so incredibly understanding and so willing to just do things and try different things (to) see what works and what doesn’t. Sear: Yeah, it felt very explorative on set, didn’t it? Cimino: Yeah, for sure. Sear: They did say, “Do you want an intimacy coach?” and we felt, to be honest, both really dedicated to these characters and wanted to honor this writing and we just sort of felt like we had a closeness and were able to do that on set. Cimino: We actually completely opted out of having an intimacy coach. George and I both felt like we were very comfortable with each other already. We really just went for it, and I think that that kind of reads on screen, where it felt very explorative. It felt very new and exciting, and I think that’s something that’s really, really cool. I don’t know how you guys identify, but there’s this conversation about straight people playing queer roles and if you are straight, you know what, you did your job. You were so believable in these parts. I really felt this relationship was a real relationship. Cimino: Thank you. Sear: Thank you for saying that. Cimino: That means a lot to hear because that is obviously a topic for discussion, and I’m glad it’s a conversation we’re

having. I think conversations such as those should be had, but I think, realistically, it relies purely on an actor-toactor basis. I feel like there are actors that are taking LGBT roles and not representing the community in an accurate way. They’re taking it as a cash grab and then they don’t represent the community afterwards, where it’s like you’re not advocating for the community. They’re not donating money to LGBT charities, they’re not trying to do things that will help the LGBT community, but they’re just taking the role because it’s a cash grab or, “Oh, it seems like it will make a difference in my career.” What has it been like for both of you to bring this Venji romance to life on screen? Sear: It’s an ever-ongoing journey, particularly the difference between Season 1 and Season 2. Being on Hulu this time around, being able to tell more realistic stories, it’s been great to be able to continue playing these characters and exploring their journeys collectively and individually and just exploring it in other areas, really, that we maybe weren’t able to do in Season 1 (on Disney+). So, it’s been great, and I hope we get the chance to get back to it. Cimino: Definitely. You have to do it again. You cannot leave me like you left me at the end of this season. Sear: No, no. We’ll manifest it. Cimino: Yes. For sure, for sure.

We’ve got to manifest it. Michael, are you Team Venji or Team Vahim? Cimino: Oh, man. I feel like… I don’t know. I haven’t been able to watch the show in its entirety, so I can’t really say. I’m so torn. Sear: Yeah. He doesn’t want to let you down on this interview, that’s what he’s saying. Cimino: I feel so torn. Sear: No, I think ultimately you probably just want Victor to be happy. Cimino: Yes, exactly. We just want Victor to be happy. That’s a pretty good nonanswer. Sear: That’s a very good deflective answer, isn’t it? Cimino: I’m just… I’m confused, OK! My opinion on the third season is that you three just form a throuple. Sear: Hey, we’ll pitch it. Cimino: (Laughs.) Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ll pitch it. We’ll put you in the “special thanks.” Because the show has had an immense impact on LGBTQ+ youth — I mean, it would have changed my life, like I told you, when I was 16 — what’s one letter you’ve received from a queer fan that really made you feel like what you were doing here was really affecting lives? Sear: Off the bat, one that FabLasVegas.com

Photo Credit: Hulu

sticks out to me — because there have been many — (was a) message from someone who’s in the military. I don’t think they had a very good experience with their sexuality, obviously, with the way things are in the military. And they said watching the show really just made them feel some sort of acceptance, and heard. Cimino: I’ve gotten so many

messages, but some of the ones that stick out to me the most are (from) people that are literally Latino and they’re like, “This is my exact story and this is exactly what I’ve been going through with my mom, or my dad, or my uncle.” It’s crazy to know that we’re still not in that place where people can just accept their children or their family for just being true to who

they are as people. I think that it’s really inspiring for me as an artist to continue to push myself harder and to continue to represent the community in an accurate way because I get to see the impact it’s making on people’s lives. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. FabLasVegas.com

Handwashing

at Home, at Play, and Out and About Germs are everywhere! They can get onto your hands and items you touch throughout the day. Washing hands at key times with soap and water is one of the most important steps you can take to get rid of germs and avoid spreading germs to those around you.

How can washing your hands keep you healthy? Germs can get into the body through our eyes, nose, and mouth and make us sick. Handwashing with soap removes germs from hands and helps prevent sickness. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

Handwashing helps prevent infections for these reasons: People often touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without realizing it, introducing germs into their bodies. Germs from unwashed hands may get into foods and drinks when people prepare or consume them. Germs can grow in some types of foods or drinks and make people sick. Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, such as door knobs, tables, or toys, and then transferred to another person’s hands.

What is the right way to wash your hands? 1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. 3. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails. Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice. 4. Rinse your hands under clean, running water. 5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. CS 280522A

When should you wash your hands? Handwashing at any time of the day can help get rid of germs, but there are key times when it’s most important to wash your hands. • Before, during, and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal feces (poop) • After touching garbage • If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

What type of soap should you use? You can use bar soap or liquid soap to wash your hands. Many public places provide liquid soap because it’s easier and cleaner to share with others. Studies have not found any added health benefit from using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients when compared with plain soap. Both are equally effective in getting rid of germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

How does handwashing help fight antibiotic resistance? Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria resist the effects of an antibiotic – that is, germs are not killed and they continue to grow. Sicknesses caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be harder to treat. Simply using antibiotics creates resistance, so avoiding infections in the first place reduces the amount of antibiotics that have to be used and reduces the likelihood that resistance will develop during treatment. Handwashing helps prevent many sicknesses, meaning less use of antibiotics.

Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent

1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and

1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

For more information and a video demonstration of how to wash your hands, visit the CDC handwashing website:

www.cdc.gov/handwashing

SÍNTOMAS DE LA ENFERMEDAD DEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 Los pacientes con COVID-19 han presentado enfermedad respiratoria de leve a grave. Los síntomas* pueden incluir

TOS

Consulte a un médico si presenta síntomas y ha estado en contacto cercano con una persona que se sepa que tiene el COVID-19, o si usted vive o ha estado recientemente en un área en la que haya propagación en curso del COVID-19.

FIEBRE

*Los síntomas pueden aparecer de 2 a 14 días después de la exposición.

DIFICULTAD *Symptoms may PARA RESPIRAR appear 2-14 days after exposure.

cdc.gov/COVID19-es CS 315252-B March 16, 2020, 1:35PM

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SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms* can include

COUGH

Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

FEVER

*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

cdc.gov/COVID19-symptoms CS 315252-A March 20, 2020, 12:51PM

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Photo Credit: Pol Kurucz

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By: Eve Kucharski

TODRICK HALL Pushing for Black ‘Femuline’ ACCEPTANCE

Todrick Hall talks reinvention, industry bias and what drives his advocacy Todrick Hall is serving bitch but making it, as he says on his latest record, fashòn. The album’s title, “Femuline,’’ is exactly as it seems: the blending of feminine and masculine attributes to create a greater, queerer whole. That theme serves as the perfect narrative for an artist who has made a music career out of reimagining classic stories like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Cinderella” through his own creative lens. The difference this time, he says, was that there was no “pre-existing blueprint.”   “It may exist, but I’ve never heard a song talking about how you can be both: you can be a prince, you can be a princess; you can be the bride, you can be the groom. And that was very interesting for me to explore,” Hall says. “But it was uncharted territory as far as I know.” Full of club-ready bangers that seem tailor-made for Pride season, “Femuline” is

Hall’s “open love letter to the LGBTQ community,” he says. An already queer experience is made queerer thanks to both LGBTQ+ and allied icons like Brandy, Tyra Banks, TS Madison, Chaka Khan, and, of course, Hall’s signature Broadway vocals. So far in his career, Hall has been part of multiple Broadway smash hits, secured a spot as a recurring guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and amassed a whopping 44 million views on YouTube with his 2019 “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” breakthrough single. Considering Hall only made the move to Los Angeles a decade ago, it’s all the more impressive that his hardwon successes have been so consistent and plentiful. Not even the vision board that he created upon his permanent move out West could’ve prepared the Plainview, Texas, native for everything he has accomplished at this point in his career.

“It wouldn’t have included any of these things because I wouldn’t have had the courage and the wisdom and the diversity and the acceptance and the permission from society to be able to put things on there,” Hall says. “As a dreamer, I still even limited my dreams at that time.”  He says that shortly after breaking into the industry he realized that, because of societal stigma and bias, his identity as a Black gay man would only make achieving his goals more difficult than he imagined. Hall recalls a distinct moment on the Broadway stage when another Black performer in “The Color Purple” pulled him aside and told him that he was never going to get away with mediocrity. “And in every Broadway show that I’ve ever been in, I had to tumble,” he says. “I had to be doing backflips and leaping across the stage, and riffing and singing high, and FabLasVegas.com

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

-----------------------------------------------------------------------understudying 8 billion roles while I saw my counterparts that were a different race come in and give, in some cases not even a mediocre performance, but the skill set that was required for them [to succeed] was lower,” Hall says. In some ways, Hall says he views the high standards society places on him as a compliment, as an expectation to only bring the best quality to his work. Yet he recognizes their deeply problematic nature, racist origins and the consequences those standards have on both himself and fellow Black performers. “You expect Black women to get up and out-sing everyone on the stage. If she doesn’t sing ‘And I Am Telling You’ or ‘I Will Always Love You,’ then why is she there?” he says. “To me, I think a Black woman should be able to get up and sing ‘Part of Your World’ from ‘The Little Mermaid.’ The reality is that there are a lot of people who are musicaltheater performers that, if they can’t deliver a gospel Jennifer Holliday-, Jennifer Hudson-, Beyoncé-esque performance, their opportunities to perform and exist in entertainment are almost nonexistent.” To Hall, one of the keys to dispelling the stigma that still persists around identity, whether conscious or not, is to push for representation whenever possible – not only of Black entertainers but those who are LGBTQ+ as well. “Some days I wake up and I’m like, ‘You should be grateful 18 Fab Vegas

for the things that you have.’ But then there are other days where I’m like, ‘You can count on one hand, without using most of your fingers, the amount of gay men who have come out and been gay when they were popular on the radio,’” he says, lamenting that he’s never heard a man sing a love song to another man on mainstream radio. He adds that Hollywood’s acceptance of Black queer artists in 2021 isn’t enough: “We’re accepting breadcrumbs when we should get a slice of bread at this point.” Hall believes that it should be a requirement and not an exception for radio stations to play same-sex love songs as a means of normalizing ideas of LGBTQ+ acceptance. Really, though, he’s out of patience for people who use a handful of examples of Black representation in popular culture as an excuse to say that visibility is equitable. “People can make the decision to be like, ‘Yeah, there wasn’t a lot.’ Or they can bring up the fact that Oprah existed and be like, ‘That’s enough,’ when that wasn’t enough,” Hall says. That extends to LGBTQ+ artists, too. He points to Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” as an example of audacious content created by a talented Black gay artist who’s seeking to break free from societal expectations of what Black queerness should look like.  “He probably knows singing a song that’s just a format that the Jonas Brothers,

that Shawn Mendes, that James Arthur, that Ed Sheeran, that Sam Smith have been able to do would not be enough,” he says. His passion about this topic and advocating for representation in his work comes from a personal place. A place, he says, that was born of being told “no” because of his Black, queer identity. It’s those roots that inspired him to take on advocacy projects outside of music like being the face of Morphe’s “Live With Love” palette whose full proceeds will go to benefit The Trevor Project. But as vocal as he is about causes he cares about, Hall doesn’t feel every artist needs to be required to use their platform for advocacy — it’s just the “cherry on top” if they do. Looking ahead, it won’t be until 2022 that fans will get to see Hall perform “Femuline” live, seeing as how COVID-19 has thrown things off-kilter for nearly every touring artist’s schedule. But until then, there’s no question about what he needs to do next: “knock down walls and barriers so that the people that come after me are able to just strut without having to stress out [about] the things that I had to worry about that made me believe that I could never accomplish my dreams.” You can see Todrick Hall perform for his Femuline Tour on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 24 Oxford inside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Tickets at VirginHotelsLV.com/event/ todrick-hall/

Take your shot. It’s safe, effective and free!

Schedule your appointment at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

By: Johnny Fab

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Kataluna Enriquez, the first openly trans contestant, wins Miss Nevada USA After being elected Miss Nevada USA, an openly transgender woman will compete in the Miss USA pageant for the first time. After her historic regional victory in Las Vegas on June 27, ending on Stonewall Day June 28, 27-year-old Kataluna Enriquez will represent the western United States at the national competition in November. Enriquez wrote on Instagram, “My community, you are always in my heart. My win is our win. We just made 20 Fab Vegas

history.” Enriquez, who is Filipino, began competing in transgender beauty pageants in 2016 and then moved on to cisgender events last year. She told the Las Vegas ReviewJournal, “I told the judges that as a transgender woman of colour and a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, I am everything that is underrepresented in this country. [...] Our voices matter. Those whose voices aren’t always heard deserve the chance to be heard.”

Enriquez designs and sews her own costumes labeled as Kataluna Kouture. The beauty queen will compete in the Miss USA pageant in November as the first openly transgender contestant. Winners of Miss USA will continue on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant formerly owned by former US President Donald Trump. Miss Universe changed its rules to allow transgender contestants in 2012.

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

By: Johnny Fab

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photo credit: twitter.com/govsisolak

Las Vegas TransPride Center opens doors with an official ribbon cutting ceremony Las Vegas TransPride opened their new Las Vegas TransPride Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony and event. The new Center is located at 727 S. 9th St., Suite B Las Vegas, NV 89101. Executive Director Reverend Jamie Lee Sprague-Ballou held the grand opening event on Saturday, June 26. In attendance was Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and Congresswoman Dina Titus. 22 Fab Vegas

Governor Sisolak had the following to say on Twitter folowing the event, “I want to thank Rev. Jamie Lee SpragueBallou & the Las Vegas TransPride Center for inviting me to participate in their grand opening!” Video can be seen online of Governor Sisolak with several community members cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the front entrance of the building. He also tweeted, “Thank you

for bringing pride, awareness, remembrance, celebration, & empowerment to our fellow Nevadans. I look forward to the services & the impact this center will continue to provide to our Transgender community & our State – Thank you!” You can contact and learn more about the Las Vegas TransPride Center on their website at LasVegasTransPride.org or by calling (702) 906-4608.

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COMMUNITY VOICES

By: Chris Azzopardi

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How

‘Fear Street’ Became

Queer Street The director, openly gay writer, and non-binary star on the popular book series’ queer evolution Phil Graziadei, the openly gay screenwriter behind Netflix’s new queer-inclusive film trilogy based on spook master R.L. Stine’s classic “Fear Street” series, remembers those teen horror-fiction books well. And he definitely remembers them not being very gay.

“Fear Street,” bodies might be buried, but queerness shouldn’t be.

Published first in 1989 with “The New Girl,” the “Fear Street” series focused on whodunit and paranormal events in the town of Shadyside, Ohio. The books weren’t short on sinister camp, but they definitely lacked any kind of blatantly queer representation.

The answer came to them quickly: Shadyside, they decided, would be a town of outsiders, with a queer love story at the center. That queer couple would not only be the stars of the show — they’d be the heroes. They’d even have a better shot at surviving the terrifying events that unfold throughout each of the trilogy’s parts, which take place in 1994, 1978 and 1666.

That hasn’t stopped fans, as Graziadei notes, from cataloging “all the homoerotic undertones of each book” for years. In the ’90s, when Stine published bestselling “Fear Street” titles like “Truth or Dare” and “The Boy Next Door,” the LGBTQ+ community was more willing to accept queer crumbs. But now it’s 2021. On 24 Fab Vegas

“One of the first conversations that I had with the producers about it was, ‘Why do we do this now?’” director Leigh Janiak says.

“It was very clear to us very early on that we wanted to write this about queer leads,” says Graziadei. “Obviously, queer representation in horror movies has a long and complicated history, for the most part. We’re only seeing ourselves on screen as monsters or as victims.

You know, maybe I don’t always want to be the monster. I don’t think that there’s a reason why the queer people always have to see themselves that way.” The anthology kicks off with “Fear Street Part 1: 1994,” where we meet Deena Johnson (Kiana Madeira) and Sam Fraser (Olivia Scott Welch) as they’re experiencing a rift in their relationship. Sam is closeted and just moved to Sunnyvale with her mom — the town adjacent to Shadyside, where Deena lives, but nothing at all like the infamous setting for “Fear Street.” Sunnyvale is rich and white. No one gets murdered there. When pure evil is unleashed in Shadyside in the form of a witch who’s haunted the town for eons, Deena, Sam and their cadre of friends go on a deathly voyage through time to solve a nightmare that has haunted the town for 300 years.

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COMMUNITY VOICES

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Welch says the queer love story is “very indicative of modern-day cinema and how it’s evolving, and how art is reflecting the elements of society that are becoming very inclusive and encouraging people to be themselves.” It was the “not so boxed in” quality of her and Madeira’s romantically involved characters that particularly appealed to her about “Fear Street,” because, as she and Janiak note, the horror genre still has work to do when it comes to queer representation. “I hope this is just the beginning of a brand new era in terms of seeing minorities represented in these kinds of roles,” Madeira says. Janiak and Graziadei, the director-writer team behind 2014’s indie creeper “Honeymoon,” were intentional about having “Fear Street” move the needle forward for LGBTQ+ representation in horror films. Within the heteronormative confines of the horror genre, seeing actual queer people who aren’t victims or villains has been a slow go, and Janiak says that even some of the most enduring horror films haven’t always best represented the LGBTQ+ community.

Janiak, who has directed two episodes of the “Scream” TV series, points to Wes Craven’s iconic “Scream” film, noting that, while an “amazing” horror movie, only white cisgender straight people led the cast. While Graziadei acknowledges some queer coding in “Scream,” Janiak said she thinks that queerness in contemporary horror should go beyond subtext. “Coding is different than being (fully) recognized,” she says. That “Fear Street” goes beyond just gay vibes was one of the most exciting parts of starring in the summer camp-set “Part Two: 1978” for non-binary actor Ryan Simpkins, who uses they/them pronouns. Even though the script didn’t identify Simpkins’ Alice character as gay, they believed from the onset that she was. “She’s so heavily queer coded,” Simpkins says, “and working through this character, I just kept coming back to that. And honestly trying to fight that impulse to be like, ‘I think Alice has maybe been in love with her best friend Cindy.’ I kept trying to push that feeling away until I finally embraced it.” While playing the role, the actor said they didn’t want

Janiak or Emily Rudd, who plays Cindy, to invalidate her queer read on Alice. But after shooting, they did ask them how Alice identifies and whether Alice did indeed have a thing for Cindy. They were not wrong: “(Leigh and Emily) were like, ‘One-hundred percent, Alice and Cindy are gay.’” Alice’s queerness aside, Simpkins says of Deena and Sam’s enduring queer love, “It’s so exciting to see a love story between two teenage girls being the main force behind a trilogy of studio movies. Like, that’s crazy, and it isn’t subtle. It’s very explicit. There’s an almost-sex scene!” “It’s so rare to get these characters whose sexuality is not demonized and isn’t why they’re being punished,” Simpkins adds. “It’s their love for each other that makes them succeed.” A love that even R.L. Stine was seemingly rooting for. Throughout the trilogy’s development, Janiak had conversations with the author, who she said was “very supportive.” Graziadei also felt that support: “He’s very clearly been like, ‘“Fear Street” is for everybody.’”

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Photo Credit: Vegas Urban Pride

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By: Chris Azzopardi

Lifetime / Ben Mark Holzberg

12 Years Later: Sigourney Weaver Reflects on ‘Prayers for Bobby’ Weaver says the movie about LGBTQ+ activist Mary Griffith is ‘in the top three’ of her career Sigourney Weaver almost didn’t make it to Michigan to film “Prayers for Bobby.” In fact, the star of “Ghostbusters” and “Alien” didn’t think she could even make time to shoot the TV drama, which has resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ audiences everywhere since it premiered on Lifetime in 2009. At the time, the actress had another job, and her daughter was about to graduate from high school. But Weaver couldn’t say no once she read the Lambda Literary Award-nominated book — a harrowing and inspiring true 28 Fab Vegas

story, written by out journalist Leroy Aarons — and Katie Ford’s script about the reallife Mary Griffith, a Christian woman who becomes a devout LGBTQ+ crusader after her gay teenage son, whom she once vehemently condemned, commits suicide. (Griffith died just last year at the age of 85.) In addition to portraying Griffith, Weaver also coproduced “Prayers for Bobby” alongside executive producers Daniel Sladek, Chris Taaffe and David Permut, who had been trying to get the film made for 11 years before it finally aired on Lifetime.

“I just felt it was so important,” Weaver told me when we spoke in June 2008, during a break from shooting. “Prayers for Bobby” has gone on to be screened globally, at festivals, conferences, universities and faith-based organizations. It was even, by invitation of European Union Parliament then-Vice President Ulrike Lunacek, screened by members of Parliament on International Day Against Homophobia in 2015. To this day, both PFLAG National and the Trevor Project consider the film a valuable educational tool.

As for Weaver, in addition to receiving Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, she was honored with the Trevor Life Award from The Trevor Project for her participation in the film. An encore presentation of “Prayers for Bobby” is available to watch during Pride season on Lifetime on demand for cable subscribers. The movie is streamable through the end of July. Without her even saying it, it’s clear the film is still important to the veteran actress, who tells me at the onset of our conversation that she’s “really glad” we get to reconnect about the film 12 years after its premiere. During our interview, Weaver talked about why she considers “Prayers for Bobby” one of the most significant films she’s ever made. It means a lot that you’d take time out to talk about this movie still, after all these years. Well, unfortunately, it’s still as relevant as ever. Maybe even more so during this weird year where they’re trying to pass so many anti-LGBTQ laws. They need to see the movie. (Laughs.) Well, recently in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order that will bar state or federal funds to be used for conversion therapy in the state. I read that. I’m so shocked that conversion therapy was being

done in Michigan, which I think of as a very (laughs) sophisticated place. And even state funds were being used to conduct conversion therapy against teenagers, which is heartbreaking because I believe that the attempted suicide rate for kids who have been through that is higher, understandably. I think that after this COVID year where there was so much more isolation for LGBTQ youth, it’s really the opposite of what one would hope would happen this year. The governor’s executive order, though, is a positive step forward. Hopefully, other leaders follow in her footsteps. Very positive. I hope it’s being picked up all over, you know? Because good for her. Start banning conversion therapy instead of banning LGBTQ youth from sports teams and bathrooms. I had such an emotional response the first time I saw “Prayers for Bobby.” I rewatched it two nights ago and felt it just the way I felt it 12 years ago, which is to say that I was just in a puddle of tears the whole time. As a gay man, it hurts so much to see a young gay person in pain. The irony is that when Mary Griffith was conducting her campaign against her own child, she was also in terrible pain. So this whole business of trying to keep people from being who they are is such a pointless exercise for everybody. I mean, part of

the point of doing this movie for me was this idea that you watch it as a family, and it just prepares you to tell your story to your parents. I bet when you made the movie 12 years ago, you didn’t realize that you’d be talking about it every June for Pride Month, but it sure seems that way. Yeah, and I’m glad because I think it’s taken the producers quite a bit of work to continue to get the movie out there. It wasn’t shown enough when we first did it, and I think they’re constantly working on showing it all over the world. Every time Pride Month rolls around, I wish we could show it more than once, but at least it’s playing on Lifetime and that’s great. I don’t know if it’s available on Netflix or on any of those other venues. I’ve never looked. Do you know? It seems to be available on YouTube, at least. It should be available on Prime, that’s ridiculous. You thanked the state of Michigan in your GLAAD acceptance speech when the movie won for Outstanding TV Movie or Miniseries. Why was Michigan important to the filming of this movie for you? Michigan really gave the film a home, and Michigan is an interesting place because I feel like it has very strong political sides there. And what I felt about the production of “Prayers for Bobby” is that FabLasVegas.com

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------we had a lot of crew from Michigan. We were in a very kind of upscale neighborhood shooting, and I felt everyone that I came across seemed to be there for a personal reason, fighting for the same thing. You know, a crew member would have a member of the family or a good friend who was LGBTQ. Everyone was trying to make a movie that would help in some way. And I felt that also about just where we were in Michigan, even though it has this reputation, I guess, of being a very corporate state. It’s such a complex place, Michigan. (Laughs.) We just had the best reception there. I imagine there were states that probably didn’t want us to shoot there. And I think it would still be the same, unfortunately. Did shooting in Midwestern Michigan towns that aren’t all that big provide the film with benefits that maybe shooting in a big city sprawl like LA or Atlanta couldn’t have? Oh gosh, yes. I felt that very much. I felt that it contributed to the intimacy of the story. Here they were, this family that was so close, and Mary idealized family life and she felt that Bobby’s being gay went against that. But I hope that other mothers who are conservative would have a different outlook, ‘cause it seems to me that even all across the political spectrum, people are wanting more recognition of LGBTQ problems and solutions. I think that’s across the board because I see these state

legislatures trying to pass very punitive, insensitive laws against the LGBTQ community. I remember being on the sidelines of the Pride parade scene that was shot in downtown Royal Oak. What stands out to you most about shooting that scene? It was at the end of the shoot, and it was at the end of the film story for Mary. Mary’s evolution was such a powerful thing. I think her being there was so healing for her, and it was so healing for any of us who watched the story: We can’t save Bobby. We’ve lost Bobby. But there’s all these Bobbys all around us, and so that’s what Mary dedicated the rest of her life to. I think the movie is still very, very relevant. I hope that more things are being made specifically about a young person coming out. I feel like there should be many more stories about even younger kids. I don’t even know if they have after school specials anymore, but it’s a very good subject for an after school special. Daniel made a real effort to shoot in as many naturally gay environments as possible. How do you think that might have enhanced the film’s authenticity and also the experience for you in this role? There’s one place that I can remember: the church where she goes (in Royal Oak), and I considered that a normal place. (Laughs.) I have to say,

I’ve never been more terrified of playing a part. I just thought, “How am I ever going to do this? How am I going to turn myself into someone who has these ideas?” Luckily, there is something called acting that takes over (laughing). But as a mother it just broke my heart to read this story. The amazing thing about what you’ve done with that role is that you’ve allowed the viewer to even sympathize with Mary, which is difficult for gay viewers like myself, watching somebody condemn their gay child. And yet, you come to an understanding of where Mary has come from and why she is the way she is. I’m glad you feel that way. The day I spent with Mary was such a powerful experience, because her desire to make amends is much too small a concept. Her conversion into a person who sees people and accepts people for what they are, it was so profound, so you see someone who is blind but they’re trying to find their way out of this thing. I guess that reminds me, especially during this very political time, not to demonize (laughs) the people who are behind these laws. It must be about fear and ignorance. All we can do is continue to, in your case, put out these stories and articles about how things are changing and how much more needs to be done, and in my case I’ve just finished a movie called “Call Jane,” which is about the group of women that came together in 1968 (the Jane Collective). They FabLasVegas.com

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------formed a sort of clandestine abortion service and ended up performing the abortions themselves and performed almost 12,000 abortions without losing a single patient. It was very clear to me when I read the script, even though it’s not overt, that this woman was in a gay relationship. And, actually, the next woman I play in this miniseries in Australia, she also has a relationship.

ways that I think, if we were making these stories 10 years ago, we just wouldn’t have looked at in the same way. So I feel just tremendously hopeful that we’re beginning to see just each other differently and trying to see the whole person and listen to how they speak about themselves.

Is she gay?

You’ve done so many iconic movies, but when it comes to the impact of your work, where does “Prayers for Bobby” rank?

Well, that’s not the focus, but her dearest friend is another woman. In fact, she only lives with women and takes care of women who’ve been the victims of domestic violence. A lot of these things are coming together, I think, in a very realistic and holistic way, and I’ve been noticing that scripts are sort of breathing differently. In my case, I felt like my character had the right to decide who she was, and part of who she was, was that she was in a relationship with another woman. There’s an opening up of relationships in

It’s very high up there in terms of making a movie with a very specific endpoint, to make this movie for this community. To encourage them. To let them know that we’re here for them. I think that I would put it in the top three. I can never even remember what I’ve done when I get a question like this (laughing), but I would say I’m grateful to have had an opportunity to tell a story in a movie that was made for such an important purpose. That makes me very happy, to use my work and come together with other

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artists to put something out there that’s going to make a difference for young people and their families around the world. There’s nothing more powerful than that. That’s what an actor dreams of: to make a difference with their work. And it’s very gratifying to me to be able to talk to you. This year, I think, has been a bit shocking in terms of how much legislation there is out there, and yet, at the same time, I feel that things have opened up in the LGBTQ world. There’s much more attention and compassion riveted on young people in this regard. My hope is that every 10 years or so we get to check in and talk about “Prayers for Bobby” in the scope of the larger world. So next time we talk, hopefully a lot more will have changed for the LGBTQ+ community. Well, let’s not make it 10 years. I may not even be here. (Laughs.) Let’s make it two.

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Information for Teens: Staying Healthy and Preventing STDs If you choose to have sex, know how to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV. Many of these STDs do not show symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still be harmful and passed on during sex.

consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to have sex. •

If you do decide to have sex, you and your partner should get tested for STDs beforehand. Make sure that you and your partner use a condom from start to finish every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been tested for STDs, know your results, and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.

•

Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both agree to only have sexual contact with each other. This can help protect against STDs, as long as you’ve both been tested and know you’re STD-free.

•

Before you have sex, talk with your partner about how you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your body. You should also talk to your partner ahead of time about what you will and will not do sexually. Your partner should always respect your right to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right.

•

Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B.

•

Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect their reproductive health. Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss unintended pregnancy and birth control.

•

Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex. If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone you normally wouldn’t have sex with.

How are STDs spread? You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. You don’t even have to “go all the way” (have anal or vaginal sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skinto-skin contact. How common are STDs? STDs are common, especially among young people. There are about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. About half of these infections are in people between the ages of 15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for several reasons: •

Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone to STDs.

•

Some young people do not get the recommended STD tests.

•

Many young people are hesitant to talk openly and honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex lives.

•

Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult for young people to access STD testing.

•

Some young people have more than one sex partner.

What can I do to protect myself? •

The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not have sex. That means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex (“abstinence”). There are many things to

34 Fab Vegas

against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

If Iare getsexually an STD, how will Idiseases know? (STDs)? What transmitted STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another Many STDs don’t cause any symptoms that you through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, would notice. only way(HPV), to know for sure genital herpes, humanThe papillomavirus syphilis, and HIV. if you haveSTDs an STD to get tested.forYou can get an Many of these do notis show symptoms a long time. Even without they can stillwith be harmful and passed STDsymptoms, from having sex someone whoonhas no during sex. symptoms. Just like you, that person might not

even he or she has an STD. How are know STDs spread?

You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with Where can I get tested? someone who has an STD. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD.There You don’t have that to “gooffer all theteen-friendly, way” (have anal or vaginal areeven places sex) to get an STD. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, confidential, and free STD tests. This means that are spread by skin-to-skin contact.

no one has to find out you’ve been tested. Visit

How common to arefind STDs? GetTested an STD testing location near

STDs are common, especially among young people. There are you. about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. About halfSTDs of thesebe infections are in people between the ages of Can treated? 15 and 24. Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for Your doctor can prescribe medicine to cure several reasons:

some STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea.

• Young women’s bodies are biologically more prone Other STDs, like herpes, can’t be cured, but you to STDs.

can take medicine to help with the symptoms.

• Some young people do not get the recommended If STD youtests. are ever treated for an STD, be sure to

•finish Manyall young peoplemedicine, are hesitanteven to talkifopenly and better of your you feel honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex before you finish it all. Ask the doctor orlives. nurse

testing and treatment for your partner, •about Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult young people to access STD avoid testing.having too. Youfor and your partner should until you’ve both been •sex Some young people have moretreated. than one Otherwise, sex partner you may continue to pass the STD back and forth. It is possible to get an STD again (after

What can I do to protect myself?

• The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not you’ve been you have sex with have sex. Thattreated), means notifhaving any vaginal, anal, or someone who has anThere STD. oral sex (“abstinence”). are many things to consider before having sex. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to What happens if I don’t treat an STD? have sex.

Some curable STDs can be dangerous if they aren’t treated. For example, if left untreated, CS287360A chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult— or even impossible—for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some STDs, like HIV, can be fatal if left untreated. What if my partner or I have an incurable STD? Some STDs, like herpes and HIV, aren’t curable, but a doctor can prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms. If you are living with an STD, it’s important to

tell partner before youyouhave sex. partner Although • Ifyour you do decide to have sex, and your should get tested for STDs beforehand. Make sure that you and it may be uncomfortable to talk about your your partner usehonest a condom from start to finish every STD, open and conversation can help time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to your partner make informed decisions to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not protect his or her health. safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been STDs, knowwho your results, and are them? in a mutually If Itested havefor questions, can answer monogamous relationship.

If• you have questions, talk to a parent or other Mutual monogamy means that you and your partner both trusted be afraid be each openother. andThis agreeadult. to only Don’t have sexual contactto with honest with themagainst aboutSTDs, yourasconcerns. If both you’re can help protect long as you’ve been and know evertested confused or you’re need STD-free. advice, they’re the first place to start. After were young once, • Before you have sex, all, talk they with your partner about how too.you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you need to be ready to protect your

Talking about sexalso with parent or another body. You should talkato your partner ahead of time adult doesn’t need bewill a one-time about what you willto and not do sexually. Your partner conversation. bestyour to leave the forthat should alwaysIt’s respect right to saydoor no to open anything doesn’t feel right. conversations in the future. • Make sure you get the health care you need. Ask a doctor It’s also important to talk honestly with a doctor or nurse about STD testing and about vaccines against or nurse. Ask which STD tests and vaccines HPV and hepatitis B. they recommend for you. • Girls and young women may have extra needs to protect

their reproductive health.information? Talk to your doctor or nurse Where can I get more

about regular cervical cancer screening, and chlamydia

CDC and gonorrhea testing. You may also want to discuss

unintended birth control. How You Canpregnancy Preventand Sexually Transmitted • Avoid mixing alcohol and/or recreational drugs with sex. Diseases If you use alcohol and drugs, you are more likely to take www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/

risks, like not using a condom or having sex with someone

Teen youPregnancy normally wouldn’t have sex with. https://www.cdc.gov/ teenpregnancy/teens/ index.htm

CDC-INFO Contact Center 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) Contact wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ ContactUs/Form HealthFinder.gov STD Testing: Conversation Starters https://healthfinder.gov/ HealthTopics/ Category/health-conditions-and-diseases/ hiv-and-other-stds/std-testing-conversationstarters American Sexual Health Association Sexual Health and You http://www.iwannaknow.org/ teens/ sexualhealth.html FabLasVegas.com

STD (SEXUALLY TRASMITTED DISEASES) INFO SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES INFO, TESTING & RESOURCES WHAT IS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are infections that are commonly spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex.

WHAT IS HIV? HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.It is usually spread by anal or vaginal sex or sharing syringes with a person who has HIV. The only way to know you have HIV is to be tested. Everyone aged 13-64 should be tested at least once, and people at high risk should be tested at least once a year. Ask your doctor, or visit gettested.cdc.gov to find a testing site. Without treatment, HIV can make a person very sick or may even cause death. If you have HIV, start treatment as soon as possible to stay healthy and help protect your partners.

Nevada is the fifth highest state in the United States for rates of new HIV diagnoses and is #1 in Syphillis *According to CDC HIV Surveillance Report, 2017 and the CDC Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report, 2017 released in 2018

36 Fab Vegas

STD TESTING RESOURCE SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT ADDRESS: 280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 HOURS: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.* *The clinic opens at 9:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month. The following services are offered at the Sexual Health Clinic: 1.

Diagnosis and treatment of active or suspected cases of:

•

Chlamydia

•

Gonorrhea

•

Syphilis

•

HIV

•

Trichomonas (females only)

•

Bacterial Vaginosis (females only)

Free condoms and instruction on how to safely use them (both male and female condom)

Follow-up bloodwork

High-risk behavior counseling

HIV Nursing Case Management

Injection series for syphilis medication

Partner notification

Referrals by private physicians

Sexual assault follow-up

10. Test results and couseling Clients seeking treatment at the Sexual Health Clinic should know that the Health District is required to report cases involving assault or abuse to appropriate agencies. HIV Testing: HIV antibody testing is a simple blood test performed by a trained professional. This procedure is strictly confidential. Counseling regarding the meaning of the test and its result take place before the actual testing to ensure you understand HIV infection and the testing procedure. HIV testing procedure: Blood Test – Blood drawn from a vein is tested for HIV antibodies. This test is available at the Sexual Health Clinic (280 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107 ), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call (702) 759-0702 for more information. If you have questions, contact the clinic by phone at (702) 759-0702 or by email at SexualHealth@snhd.org.

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PRIDE FLAGS

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

By: Johnny Fab

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Rainbow design by: Fab Las Vegas Magazine

photo credit: instagram.com/carlnassib

NFL player for Raiders Las Vegas, Carl Nassib, comes out as gay Carl Nassib, a defensive lineman for the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Nassib wrote on Instagram, “What’s up people.” “I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.

I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.” He continues, “I’m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary, but until then I will do my best

and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting and compassionate and I’m going to start by donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project. They’re an incredible organization, they’re the number one suicide-prevention service for LGBTQ youth in America and they’re truly doing incredible things. I’m very excited to be a part of it to help in any way that I can and I’m really pumped to see what the future holds.” FabLasVegas.com

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www.afanlv.org Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) provides support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada. AFAN works to reduce HIV infection through prevention and education to eliminate fear, prejudice and the stigma associated with the disease.